For the past few years, a rare glimpse at Ancient Roman living has been touring the US in the exhibition, “In Stabiano: Exploring the Ancient Seaside Villas of the Roman Elite.” This week it opens at the Chazen Museum of Art in March 17 through June 3. The exhibition includes more than 70 works of art and artifacts, including 26 fresco wall paintings and 11 wall reliefs made of stucco. The exhibit also presents objects of Roman daily life, such as cooking utensils, glassware and even a pair of bronze tweezers.
Stabiae suffered the same fate as better known Roman cities, Pompeii and Herculaneum, when it was covered by ash in 79 AD after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. (View a modern photo of these cities - Stabiae today). These coastal communities around Naples were celebrated getaway destinations for the wealthy Roman elite who maintained large villa estates with extensive farming grounds. These villas have varied architecture, grand porticoes, and multiple living spaces for summer and winter. Read about Cicero's Villa from Tusculum at Cicero's Villa.
The exhibition's look into Roman living is part of the RAS (Restoring Ancient Stabiae) project on site in Stabiae to transform a 150-acre archeological site into an innovative park where the visitor can experience the large villas, breathtaking vistas, and home decor of the elite. This foundation also hopes to promote Italian-American educational cultural exchange by sponsoring study abroad programs for American university students. To this end, they are actively seeking sponsorship from individuals at all donation levels.
Link: The Badger Herald - Chazen Museum brings Ancient Rome to UW.
For more information on the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation or the traveling tour, visit Restoring Ancient Stabiae RAS
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